SuddenTeams™ Program>Task Completion by Members

Description: This section assumes the team is creating proper action items and Mission Plan tasks—specific tasks, deadlines, and responsible parties. If an individual keeps asking for deadline extensions or handing off tasks, review this topic to diagnose and address the problem.

Techniques:

As a team, review assigned tasks to see if the individual has been assigned too many tasks relative to other members and relative workloads. If so, reassign some tasks.

Ask the member how the team can help with his or her regular workload so the member can contribute more time to the team’s tasks.

Ask if the person could use some help with improving his or her skills. If so:

Arrange for the required training, whether formal or informal.

Arrange for a mentor—whether or not a team member—with the needed skills to assist.

Ask if the member has the needed equipment or other resources. If not, either get them or transfer the task to someone who does.

Ask the member where he or she is getting bogged down in the task’s process. If appropriate, teach the member problem-solving, prioritizing, or decision-making techniques from elsewhere in this section that can be adapted for use by an individual.

In team meetings, identify “grunt” jobs as they come up—jobs that are important but not fun or rewarding—and assign them in alphabetical order. That is, after Ashley takes one, Boris gets the next one, and so on.